A week in Colorado's Weminuche Wilderness this time out. Lots of offtrail hiking via unofficial trails/climbers' routes, game trails, and cross-country bushwhacking. 20k' or more of elevation gain(went over the Continental Divide 3x on one of my two biggest days), and quite a bit of scouting and wandering, since my planned offtrail route didn't work out due to climbs that were choked with deadfalls, and another sketchy enough to make a group of 3 climbers turn back, respectively.
Looks like my 58L pack will only be used for long trips where a bear canister is required, since it turns out I can easily get 7 days/6 nights from my 38L if I use the detachable packlid.
Decisions, decisions...
~15F low temp at >12k' on my first night, but warming, so more like 30-45 the rest of the time.
Choosing a campsite for the background, rather than practicality, meant tons of condensation for the shelter, and a sheet of ice inside and out at that low of a temp. Totally expected, but I didn't do that again.
Kept it more conservative on the 3 nights I was camped below treeline, but this one was pretty decent.
Along with handling the elevation and climbs really well, a couple of moose encounters were memorable high points.
After getting myself out into alpine meadows that had me wading shin deep in mud while pressing through brush up to 10' high, I'd gotten so frustrated and angry that I was questioning why I do this stuff at all.
It resulted in perfect timing, though. After rejoining the CDT, I stepped out on a familiar outcropping to take the requisite pic of the Window and Rio Grande Pyramid...
...and heard a loud moan that sounded like it was right next to me-because it was. Two moose were getting it on so close I could have spit on them.
Too close for comfort, as I had no desire to be trampled to death by a rutting bull moose, but I was really excited to see them.
The next morning, I got to see another one.
Well, I didn't see him at first...
Pics weren't a priority(3rd trip), so I didn't even bring my camera, but this is one of my favorite spots. First night's camp was way up past those peaks in the background.
A few misadventures, but lots of fun. Great trip!